Phillips Supports Naval Manufacturing Experiment at RIMPAC 2026

Phillips Corp., provider of advanced manufacturing solutions to government, defense, education, and commercial industries, will participate in Rim of the Pacific Exercise 2026 (RIMPAC 2026) as part of the Naval Postgraduate School's Consortium for Advanced Manufacturing Research and Education (CAMRE) distributed advanced manufacturing network.

Held biennially, RIMPAC is a large international maritime exercise, bringing together military forces from around the globe to strengthen partnerships, enhance interoperability, and demonstrate collective readiness in support of a free and open IndoPacific, Meltio reports. RIMPAC 2026 will include more than 25,000 personnel, 40 surface ships, five submarines, and 140 aircraft operating throughout the Pacific region.

As part of CAMRE’s distributed advanced manufacturing experiment, Phillips Federal will deploy a containerized Haas TM-1P CNC platform integrated with Meltio Blue wire-laser metal additive manufacturing technology aboard the USS ESSEX (LHD-2). The system combines additive and subtractive manufacturing capabilities in a single platform, enabling the repair, restoration, and production of critical metal components closer to the point of need.

FLEETWERX, a Partnership Intermediary for the Naval Postgraduate School, helps connect government, industry, and academia to boost evaluation of technologies in operational environments. Through its support of CAMRE, FLEETWERX enables industry partners such as Phillips Corporation to demonstrate advanced manufacturing capabilities in real-world scenarios that address critical military sustainment challenges.

The exercise will evaluate how expeditionary manufacturing can help reduce the time required to obtain replacement parts and repairs in austere, distributed environments where traditional supply chains may be limited or unavailable. By producing or restoring components closer to where they are needed, these capabilities can improve readiness and reduce maintenance delays in operational environments.

By connecting advanced manufacturing assets across multiple locations into a collaborative network, CAMRE continues to explore new approaches to distributed logistics and maintenance in contested environments.

"RIMPAC provides an opportunity to evaluate how advanced manufacturing can help solve real sustainment challenges for the fleet," says Brian Kristaponis, president of Phillips Additive Manufacturing Solutions. "When critical parts are unavailable through traditional supply channels, the ability to manufacture or repair components closer to the point of need can help improve readiness and keep systems operational. We are honored to support the Naval Postgraduate School, CAMRE, FLEETWERX, and the U.S. Navy in this important effort."

The Phillips system leverages proven Haas CNC technology and Meltio’s wire-laser metal deposition process to provide a flexible manufacturing solution that can produce new components, repair worn parts, and perform precision machining operations within a single workflow.

Phillips Federal has worked alongside the U.S. Department of Defense, Naval Postgraduate School, and industry partners to advance deployable manufacturing solutions that enhance sustainment, increase resiliency, and support operational readiness across the Joint Force. RIMPAC 2026 takes place from June 24 through July 31, 2026 throughout the Hawaiian Islands and surrounding waters.

About Phillips 

Phillips Corporation is a global leader in manufacturing solutions and services, dedicated to advancing the metalworking industry by delivering expert knowledge, innovation, and technology. 

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.